The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-10-22
Mr.. OBERLY'S LETTER.

Orleans had Joined the trust except three
Mr.. OBERLY's LETTER.
Mr.. Oberly, the Civil Service Commits
sioner, does not permit the existence o
any doubt as to the sincerity OF his convic
tiops or his energetic independence II
declaring them. His recent letter 10 thu
Illinois Association In Washington Isl Wig
orous exposure of the renewal by demo
Gratis of the very abuse which was de
nounced by them when practiced by repub
licans. These State associations In Wash
ington are mainly partisan machines &c
extort money from government employs
and TO discipline them for party efficiency
al believe" says Mr.. Oberly, the demo
Gratis should practice In power what they
preached while out of power"
That Is sensible proposition, the appli
cation of which Is not limited 10 the case
of government clerks In Washington
There was great deal OF dlstrust ex
pressed of Mr.. Oberly, when he was ap-
pointed, as being altogether too strong a
partisan 20 make proper Civil Service
Commissioner. But his course has been
manly and straightforward, without tricks
or diplomacy" of any questionable kind
and there can be no more doubt OF his
good faith than Of his intelligent resolution
All the recent documents OF the commits
sion bear the imprint OF his decisive char.
acter, and this letter Is worthy of careful
consideration.
Mr.. Oberly Is what Is called . practical
politician. He holds that the passage OF
a good law correcting gross abuses and Its
faithful enforcement are practical politics.
1t is not surprising that his letter produced
a profound impression In what are called
political circles" Ii announced truth
which Is not agreeable to those circles, but
which they must make up their minds to
accept and respect.-Harper's Weekly.
The above tribute TO faithful public
officer Is as truthful as II is eminently de-
served. Mr.. Oberly, in his attitude to-
wards the "lllinois Association" In Wash.
Ington abated not title from that shrewd-
ness as a politician which 80 distinguished
him while at the head of the Democratic
of Illinois. The only right
way to manage politics is to be straight.
forward and manly. The democratic party,
In Its state and national conventions, has
pledged Itself In favor of an
honest civil service reform. These pledg.
es were the logical outcome Of decades
exposures and denunciations
Of the glsring and outrageous prostitution
Of the public service to partisanship during
nearly twenty. five years Of unbroken re.
publican rule, and 1t was the shameful
OF that prostitution In the
ater years of that rule that aroused the de-
nand for reform, to which the bill of Mr..
Pendleton, the distinguished democratic
'enator from Ohio, and which Is to day
aw, was the response The abuses against
which this bill Is moro especially directed
ire those that became SO Infamous under
he name Of republicanism and Dorseyism,
consisting In making local political agent,
worker or tool Of every office holder under
he government, and subiecting every
,fiice to which pay from one hundred
lollars year up was attached, to an assess,
nent Of from ten to thirty per cent. for
political purposes. Every officer was not
'nly compelled to pay the assessment un-
Ter pain OF immediate removal, but was
urther expected to attend, influence and
manage ward meetings and political con-
'entions In the interest Of the party, or
leaders of the party, upon
whom he was dependent for his continu.
nee In office. The abuse went much fur
her than that. Slnecure offices were ere.
ted and given to men whose real function
vas to prepare and circulate documents
md generally head, manage and direct
political campaigns; and In other cases
'alaries we're increased or rich emolu.
nents, fees and pickings attached to offices
o enable the tenants to meet the exhorbi-
ant assessments that were made upon
hem, thus virtually, In indirect ways,
lefraying the campaign expenses Of the
party In power out Of the public treasury.
The association Of democratic Office
holders In Washington to whom Mr.. ODER
y took occasion to read a lecture, was In
mitation--remotely and feebly II is true
yet an imitation OF the abuse that obtained
such an Infamous notoriety under the name
Of Hubbleism. Its object was to levy
upon or at least to gather volun-
tary contributions from members TO be
used for political or campaign purposes.
The democratic party cannot, after Its con-
slant and vehement denunciatlons of the
prostitution OF the public service to par.
tisanism, as above indicated, afford to
even the appearance of that
Infamous, system. Thank heaven we have
a President who has set his face as steel
against such practices, and he has In Mr..
Oberly, as a strong member OF the civil
service commission, a lieutenant who Is not
afraid to back him up. As an Ill!noisian
the democrats of this state have reason to
be proud Of their distinguished compat
riot, and should allow no fitting opportu.
nifty To pass OF attesting to him their ap-
probation and endorsement OF his efforts
-. Io-u,x IL II. III